When the girls of Girl Scout Troop

7-4314 were asked how they wanted to spend the profits from the troop's Girl Scout cookie sales, the 12 second-graders surprised their leaders. They didn't want to throw a party or buy themselves treats - they wanted to give back to the community.

And that's just what they're doing.

After voting among several options, the troop decided to "adopt" children from the Guardian Tree, put on every year by the Department of Social Services and the Black Hills Foster Parent Association. The Guardian Tree collects gifts for children who are in foster care, alternative placement or other residential facilities.

Troop leader Julie Erickson and her then 7-year-old daughter, Haley, participated in the program last year.

"I've got friends that have foster children and they talk about how you get the child and you don't always have a lot of stuff for them," Erickson said. It was part of the reason she decided to donate to the program.

She and Haley picked out a tag for a little girl from the tree. Each tag contains information about what the child wants for Christmas as well as sizes, favorite colors and other information. Erickson's recipient liked Dora the Explorer, so she and her daughter selected several things for her.

Erickson said she was impressed by the impact the giving had on Haley. Six months later, while walking through the store, Haley saw a Dora toy and told her mother, "Look, our little girl would like that!"

"I was really impressed with how my little girl seemed to get it," Erickson said. "It was just neat."

Haley's excitement has spilled over to the troop members, who are eager to select their three tags and start shopping for their children.

"They've been excited," Erickson said. "Haley's asked me when we're going to get (the tag) and when we're going to do (the shopping)."

This year's Guardian Tree went up on Monday at the Department of Social Services Office, 510 N. Cambell St. across from Kmart. The tree helps about 275 to 300 children who have been placed in foster care each year, said program coordinator Dorothy Jennings.

"It's just to help and support provide gifts for our children," Jennings said.

People who want to adopt a child can stop by the office and pick a tag off the tree. Unwrapped gifts are due back at DSS by Dec. 11. Jennings said she works hard to make sure the gifts go to the child whose name was on the tag and not just thrown in a pile and handed out randomly.

While all of the children on the tree are in need of presents, younger kids are usually selected first, and the teenagers often get overlooked, Jennings said.

"(Younger kids) are easier to shop for and not quite as expensive," she said.

When there are tags left over, the program takes monetary donations and tries to fill in the gaps, Jennings said.

Anyone interested in donating to the program or adopting a tag can stop at the DSS office or call 394-2525 and talk to Judy, Ext. 254; Jerri, Ext. 208 or Chris, Ext. 206.

The Guardian Tree is just one of many charity programs held during the holiday season. Need for donations is huge throughout the Black Hills this year, said United Way executive director Renee Parker. The United Way is about $100,000 behind in fundraising from this time last year, Parker said.

"We know this is a tough year," Parker said. "We are asking businesses to do whatever they can to raise funds."

The need for food donations at area food banks is also huge this year, Parker said.

"We are very, very short of food in this community right now," she said. "Anything that people can do to initiate a food drive, that's very big."

The Black Hills Area Food Bank and Cornerstone Rescue Mission collect food each year for holiday baskets and turkey dinners. Frozen turkey donations are down significantly, Parker said.

Cornerstone cooks as many as 30 turkeys for its free Thanksgiving meal, said executive director Jim Castleberry. It also gives away frozen turkeys and hams so people can cook a meal at home. Castleberry said he expects to serve about 300 people at this year's meal.

Cornerstone is also collecting winter clothing for a free coat giveaway that will take place Saturday. The agency needs gloves, mittens, hats, coats and other warm-weather clothing.

"If it doesn't warm up, it's going to be a long (winter), I'm afraid," he said.

In addition to food drives, this month also saw the launch of the annual Toys for Tots program.

Last year, Toys for Tots helped 5,500 children in the Black Hills, said coordinator Erin Bickett. She expects the need to increase this year; unfortunately, Toys for Tots funding has deceased nationally by about 85 percent, she said.

"It's a little scary," Bickett said. "It's really tough to call what's going to happen and if people are going to be able to donate."

Toys for Tots collection boxes are at large retailers and grocery stores across the area. Toys will be distributed beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at the Fine Arts Building at the Central States Fairgrounds. Toys for Tots does not require parents to sign up before distribution. Parents may come to the site with valid identification and proof of the child and fill out an application, Bickett said.

The program covers children from infants to age 14 and, like Guardian Tree, gifts for teenagers often fall short.

"It's kind of heart-wrenching to see the families that come in here," Bickett said. "A lot of people can't even put food on the table, let alone pay their utility bills. So putting a smile on the face of a child at Christmas, it's just an amazing thing."

By Journal staff

Many community organizations, businesses and church groups hold special charity drives during the holiday season. Here are some of them:

Cornerstone Rescue Mission

y Food donations: In need of nonperishable food items, as well as hams and turkeys to be given away for holiday meals and fresh produce and dairy items.

y Winter clothing: Cornerstone also serves about 300 people in need of coats, gloves, hats and other warm winter clothing.

y Toy drive: Cornerstone provides gifts for the children and families living in its apartments and women and children's home. Donations are needed for all age groups.

y Volunteers: People willing to donate their time are always needed at Cornerstone.

Bring donations to the mission, 30 Main St., or call 341-2844 for information.

United Way of the Black Hills

y Financial donations: The United Way supports 43 organizations in the Black Hills area. Any monetary donations received are dispersed throughout the community.

y Food drives: All area food banks are struggling to meet demand. Businesses or organizations can sponsor a food drive and bring it to the United Way, which will disperse it in the community.

y Volunteers: Check the United Way Web site, www.unitedwayblackhills.org, for information about volunteer opportunities year-round.

During the winter months, people who would be willing to shovel driveways for the disabled are especially needed.

For more information, call 343-5872 or stop by the United Way office,

located downtown at 621 Sixth St., Suite 100.

Salvation Army

y The Angel Tree is now up and has gift tags for community children ranging in age from infants to 12 years old. The tree serves around 5,500 children. Pick up a tag at all three Rapid City Arby's locations, Atonement Lutheran Church, ASI, Culver's, Country Inn Suites on La Crosse, Faith Lutheran Church, Family Thrift Center east and west, First Western Bank, First National Bank, J.C. Penney, Meadowbrook School, MPI, both Pioneer Bank locations, Rushmore Mall, Simpson's Printing, St. Therese Church, Stevens High School, Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo on St. Joseph Street, Western Dakota Technical Institute or Nemo Guest Ranch.

The unwrapped new gifts are due by Dec. 16 and can be returned to the location where you picked up your tag.

y The traditional Salvation Army holiday bell ringers are now outside area stores accepting monetary donations.

y The Salvation Army also does holiday food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas and is looking for food donations for those baskets. For information about either program, to donate or volunteer, call Rhonda Kreber at 791-4045.

Toys for Tots

y Dropoff boxes are now in the community for donations to the Toys for Tots program. Drop off donations in the boxes at Wal-Mart, ShopKo, all Family Thrift and Safeway stores, Security First Bank, Black Hills Federal Credit Union and Karl's.

y Toys for Tots is also in need of financial donations to purchase toys for children and volunteers who are willing to help pass out toys at the distribution day.

For more information, call the 211 Help Line. Send checks to Toys for Tots, P.O. Box 8191; Rapid City, SD 57709.

Guardian Tree

y The Guardian Tree is now up at Department of Social Services, 510 N. Cambell St., across from Kmart. Pick up an ornament and purchase gifts for a child in foster care. Unwrapped presents are due back by Dec. 11. Financial donations can be sent to Black Hills Foster Parent Association, P.O. Box 2440, Rapid City, SD 57709

For information, contact 394-2525 and talk to Judy, Ext. 254; Jerri, Ext 208 or Chris, Ext. 206.

Sportsmen Against Hunger

y Find out information about donating your wild game meat to the food bank at www.feedtheneedSD.com

Knights of Columbus

y Free Thanksgiving day dinner, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, in the St. Elizabeth Seton School lunch room. To volunteer to serve at the dinner, come to the school by 10 a.m.

Contact Savannah Cummings at 394-8434 or savannah.cummings@rapidcityjournal.com.